When social workers are in a good place, others benefit too

A feature sponsored by Derby City Council

Derby City Council has created a unique relocation package to help attract and retain experienced children’s social workers.

As we all know, competition to recruit experienced social workers is fierce in today’s market. So the council has created a new incentive to help grow and strengthen its children’s social work team.

It’s a carefully considered investment that they’re confident will help to attract and, importantly, retain the people they need – who will be committed in the long-term, to providing the best possible service for vulnerable children and their families.

An attractive relocation package

In order to attract experienced children’s social workers to work for and stay with them, the council has put together a two-stranded incentive package:

Relocation expenses up to £5k which can be used by anyone living more than 25 miles away from the city towards travel expenses to work, rent, or as part of a deposit to buy a property.

Mortgage deposit subsidy up to £10k: on successful completion of their probation period any social worker living more than 25 miles away from the city, and wanting to purchase their own home within the city boundary, will be given a £10k loan towards a deposit. If they stay with the Council for more than five years in a role working for children’s services which requires a social work qualification, then they won’t have to repay the loan.

A happier place to live

The council believes that social workers will be attracted by the prospect of living and working in Derby; a thriving and vibrant multi-cultural city. Close to the picturesque Peak District, it offers the best of both city and country living, with great transport links and affordable property.

Derby has recently been named the UK’s third happiest city, too – according to Jetpac, a company who’ve developed software that can measure the size of people’s smiles in photos that have been publicly shared on the internet.

A happier place to work

With a ‘smile score’ showing Derby as one of the UK’s happiest cities, children’s services is working to ensure that everyone they’re responsible for can feel happier too, with better outcomes for the children of the city and better working conditions for its social workers.

In return for their hard work and commitment, the council is focused on giving its social workers the training and development opportunities, resources, flexibility and benefits they need to be happy both in and outside of work. After all, when they’re fully supported to do the best possible job, they’re able to help provide the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children and their families.

A new recruitment campaign

Derby City Council children’s services are now welcoming applications from experienced social workers to ‘work their happy’, and help give the children of Derby a better chance in life.

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